Stomach problems may include: feelings of satiety, digestion, and proper absorption of nutrients.

You know, I always thought it was normal, even desirable, to feel full after eating. That’s how you know you did it right! But I guess in this time of rampant, world-destroying obesity, we’ll pathologize anything related to the consumption of food. Witness this call for volunteers for a medical study at Northwestern:

“Do you have stomach problems? Many people have stomach discomfort, stomach pain, feel full after eating and other problems will meals. Researchers at Northwestern University are conducting a research study using two FDA-approved medications to treat stomach symptoms that occur after eating. You may be eligible to participate if: You are 18 to 75 years of age; You experience stomach discomfort or pain, or other stomach problems after eating.” (Emphasis added. Also [sic].)

Note: I looked up the study on-line and what they are actually looking for are “patients with chronic abdominal discomfort, bloating, or early fullness after eating a meal,” which makes me think that one, they ought to hire somebody from the English department to write their “Participants Wanted” signs, and two, they are going to get a lot of unqualified people signed up for this particular trial.

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Oy. I mean, I think I know what symptom they’re talking about — when I first developed IBS even eating, like, a piece of toast would make me feel like I’d gone to the world’s most tempting buffet. But that’s not what I would call “feeling full after eating”! That’s what I would call “your digestive system going totally fucking haywire.”

I am so sick of this pathologizing of everyday experiences. Look at all the fatties, with their FULLNESS AFTER EATING and their INCREASED HEARTRATE WITH EXERCISE!

I am willing to give Northwestern the benefit of the doubt and chalk this up to poor drafting, particularly given the clearer guidelines on the website and the generally awkward syntax on the sign. I got a chuckle out of it, though.

I think “early satiety” is the medical term they were poorly translating there — feeling full after eating a smaller amount than you would expect to make you full. It’s something doctors ask about because it can be a symptom of Really Bad Shit like a tumor compressing your stomach. (Or a symptom of WLS, hmmm).